Student Academic Conference (StAC) Gears Up for October Event in White Plains

By Michael Mancini, Assistant to the Dean, Central New York Center

October 3, 2011

“The Student Academic Conference brings together students from all geographic and academic areas of the college to share and learn from each other. The Student Academic Conference seeks to provide an arena for developing community among our students; to provide a forum for presenting creative and inspiring accomplishments of an academic nature; to foster the value of SUNY Empire State College as a learning community and to immerse students in an academic culture.” – from the Mission Statement, Student Academic Conference

The Student Academic Conference is gearing up for its seventh year. This year’s event will be hosted again by the Hudson Valley Center (HVC) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains on Oct. 14 and 15. This wonderful gathering brings together students, alumni, faculty and staff from across the college to interact with and learn from each other. The conference is an arena for developing community among students, a forum for presenting creative and inspiring accomplishments of an academic nature and an opportunity to foster the value of SUNY Empire State College as a learning community and to immerse students in an academic culture. With more than 150 students attending last year – the largest response ever – it is clear that this conference continues to be a huge success.

While numbers may be climbing, the purpose of the conference is unwavering: to bring together students to share and interact. Amy Tweedy, current director of academic review at the Central New York Center (CNYC), is credited with shepherding StAC (originally called Student All College) through the administrative processes that brought it to fruition. The idea originated within the Student Affairs Committee, while Tweedy was cochair; the committee was looking for ways to showcase student academic and creative work. Over time, the conference has grown both in size and stature within the college community.

Besides Saratoga Springs and HVC, CNYC in Syracuse hosted StAC for two years, with a then-record-breaking attendance of more than 100 students. In addition to student presentations, attendees also hear SUNY Empire State College faculty and staff discuss topics such as navigating the online library, public speaking and resume writing.

Beyond attending the conference in Buffalo at the Adam’s Mark Hotel next year (2012), students can get involved by submitting a proposal to present their academic or creative work, or volunteering to serve on the Conference Planning Committee.